STATEHOUSE — State Rep. Rhonda Rhoads (R-Corydon) authored legislation strengthening school background checks for potential employees, which passed the Indiana House of Representatives on Monday with a 97-0 vote. The bill is coauthored by Reps. Steve Davisson (R-Salem) and Eric Koch (R-Bedford).

“This bill is about the safety and well-being of Hoosier children,” said Rep. Rhoads. “By conducting a national background check, school administrators are able to examine a more comprehensive background check and ensure that potential job candidates have a clean history.”

House Bill (HB) 1160 requires a national criminal history background check for school employees. Currently, school corporations can request a national background check or an Indiana criminal records check. A local background check just searches county information based on a person’s legal name and some states do not allow record access to non-law enforcement entities. A national criminal history background check requires a search of the criminal history record system maintained by the Federal Bureau of Investigation that uses a biometrics identifier.

“Social security numbers and names can be altered, but fingerprints cannot,” said Rep. Rhoads. “This is why using a biometrics identifier is necessary.”

The fee required for a national criminal history check can be paid for by the school corporation or the employee. HB 1160 will move to the Senate for further discussion and debate.

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